goodymatt

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat, I highly doubt we have added 2 further years onto his contract, paying him the same wage we were doing up to 34 years old. This is most likely going to be a deal that gives him security and lowers our wage bill. Provided that is the case, then that could be justification for it being a 2 year extension to his existing contract, rather than 1 year. If the salary is sensible (reflecting his expected position over the next few years in the squad), this will keep a perfectly acceptable squad player in and around the team, that cares more than most. I can’t get too upset about that. Jack will play a fair bit this season I’d imagine, the championship is relentless and he’s good enough for this level when not being asked to be a FB come CM floater. If I’m wrong and it’s a 2 year extension of the same terms for a player that we know isn’t good enough to be a starter in the PL (where we aim to be during the next 3 years), then it is a Forster x McCarthy type nonsensical extension. In that case the general frustration about this announcement would be more logical.

You’re not wrong, we need a balance of speculating on young players that have less financial risk and getting what the team needs to be competitive now. Brighton have done an excellent job of this is recent times. Sole reliance on young potential resulted in our relegation from an established position. Transfer strategy has raised some funds to help paper over the cracks since but we will need investment in proven premier league players to get back to where we were.

Surprised he’s not got PL interest.

Is it a pay rise though? We are in the championship and he’s 31-34 for this deal. I expect a pay reduction but extended duration, finances of which could actually suit all parties.

Fully agree with this. The financial risks in terms of player trading are low with high potential ceilings. However, we have seen high financial impact due to 2 relegations. A balanced squad that provides the right environment for young talent to flourish is the preference/ideal but harder to build that from our current championship position.

Interesting to look into our recent track record buying young players: Mara - €11.5m, sold for €12m Sulemana - €25m, sold for €17.5m up to €21.5m SAA - free, sold for €8.5m Charles - £10m, worth more now. Edozie - €8m, would likely get a slight profit. Meghoma - free, sold for €6m ABK - €12m, received €2m loan fee so far, €12.5m sale fell through. We want €10m to more or less break even but could lose €5m or so here. Larios - €7m, likely to lose quite a bit of this fee. Fernandes - €15m, will go for treble that. Lavia - £12m initial but €22m including sell on, sold for €62m Livramento - £5m but €26m including sell on, sold for €38m Bazunu - €14m, one we might lose on if we sold now. THB - £20m, worth at least that today. Edwards - £3m worth more now Wood - £3m, expect a small profit. Quarshie and Downs are the next ‘gambles’ but are well informed by Lederer and Spors. Have I missed anyone? Some of these talents have been very good for our first team like Lavia, Tino, THB and Matty, but one thing for sure is they aren’t too risky in terms of financial investments. We are definitely up on the youth gambles. Players like Carillo £19m (sold for nothing), Onuachu, £16m (sold for £6m) are the bigger types of gambles that have cost us big time. ABK looked initially to be a potentially big sale but injuries have broke his mentality. Bazunu probably the most frustrating of the young buys, we expected more and his return has been statistically awful.

I have a good feeling about this one, to be joint top scorer when only making 13 starts for a title winning team in the German equivalent of the championship is quite impressive. He offers many attributes we’ve not had since Pelle. Spors and Lederer know what they are buying too, it’s not as big a gamble as it first seems IMO. Looking forward to seeing him play for us and hopefully it turns out to be a key signing. I echo the thoughts that we have a lot of experience and goals in our side at championship level, I’m hoping the ones that stay will compliment well with Downs.

Wonder if this extends his contract but reduces his wages? Might help from a PSR perspective. We are going to be left with young CBs only when Bednarek leaves, so I’m not massively against retaining him as a squad option, leader and emphasis on club captain. We don’t have too many players that are Southampton through and through. Last seasons 9 game suspensions let us down and he may have struggled to be a LB come CM roamer but at championship level playing sensible tactics he is a decent enough option IMO.

Transfer news: Just herd Lallana has sighned a contract with neighbelline after his Nivea contract expired. Celebrating with a glass of chardonhay.

Alfie has rubbished any free transfer speculation for ABK. I didn’t realise we had an option to extend his contract. Might struggle to get €10m considering how his last 2 years have gone but the extension option might lead to a loan? I think all parties would prefer a sale this summer.

I agree. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do a Newcastle and just keep all of our best players and smash the league? This is not the Southampton way, or the reality for 99% of relegated teams.

Nothing new here really, but German Athletic correspondent confirming what Alfie told us last week.

if we could somehow keep Ramsdale, that would be huge. Just don’t see it.

We have been linked with a few so far, Patterson of Sunderland the most recent link. If Rambo goes we will surely replace. By if, I mean when.

Alfie saying back 4, which would be my preference too. So will it be a 4-2-3-1 (I think this was Still’s preference before losing his best players at Lens) or 4-3-3? We have too many CBs and not enough wide players if we lose Edozie, lots of work to do. I guess this is our best 11 as things currently stand, but we could lose half this team: Ramsdale Sugawara THB Bednarek Manning Charles Downes Dibling Fernandes Archer Downs

I think I’d keep Edozie, the link suggests he might want a move though.

If we go back to a high intensity style, Smallbone is going to have to improve those parts of his game to be involved. With Prowsey it filled those gaps and he became our best player. I think we will find out this season if Will can kick on or if he is just a championship player in a possession based system only, which many suspect.

Kyoto Furuhashi or Damion Downs, who is the better signing? One is perhaps on the way down, whilst the other has potential to realise. I see Downs as a better investment but expect Furuhashi to score more this coming season.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CGDki36ov/?mibextid=wwXIfr Some full kit pics on Saints FC Facebook, former players taking it for a spin.

29 apps last season in Bundesliga 2 but only played 1,801 mins total so 20 full games of mins. In those appearances he scored 10 goals and got 5 assists. That’s a goal every 2 games and an assist every 4. Remains to be seen what he can do at championship level and if he can translate that ratio over a season but I do think this guy has the potential to score goals. Looks like his link play is decent, which will help Archer/Armstrong. Eni Aluko informs me that’s actually a goal a game when you think about it, so he should fire us to promotion no problem.